Tag Archives: community college of beaver county

I always told myself that I would not let the freshman fifteen happen to me. I scoffed at the people who had a hard time staying the same size out of high school. Then, I actually started college, and every thought about staying healthy flew out the window.

Taking around five classes a semester, working almost full time, and trying to maintain a social life wrecked havoc on my diet. It was quick snacks at the cafe, fast food on my way to work from class, and going out to eat with my friends and family. My fridge had water and some milk for cereal. My cupboards had nothing but chips and some bread. The freshman fifteen was hot on my heels and I could feel every pound. I felt so out of shape, getting out of breath just walking around on campus in between my classes.

It was how I felt so physically unfit that finally caused me to take action and fight the freshman fifteen. I was tired of feeling this way and decided that I needed to make some serious changes with my activity and diet.

I started with packing my lunch for school and work. Anything you bring from home can be a whole lot better for you than greasy food from a drive thru. I still have chips and candy but I also try to balance with some healthier options like wheat bread and fruit. I make a lot of meals at home and take leftovers for lunch.

As for the exercise, I just started taking it one day at a time. My fiancé got me a Fitbit for Christmas and I love it. It really motivates me to keep moving throughout my day. I started out small, only attempting to hit 5000 steps a day and before long I was hitting my goal half way through the day. So I bumped it up, and now I’m getting at least 10000 steps a day. I also started going to the gym at least one day a week after school.

These changes may not help everyone but they definitely have been helping me be a healthier version of myself. At the very least, it’s helped me walk up the hill from the Health Building to the parking lot without feeling like I’m going to die.

I have taken several online classes here at CCBC. I honestly really think that online classes are convenient, especially when working outside of school. Some of my friends don’t like online classes that much; they would rather be on campus in and actual classroom. It is really personal preference whether you like online classes or on campus classes better.

This semester, I’m taking two classes on campus and three online. With online classes, it is vital to make sure that you are keeping track of all the work that you have to do. You really want to check Blackboard regularly to see if your teachers have posted any updates or other assignments that you may have originally missed. I try to make a schedule of the week each Monday with all the assignments I have to do for each class and cross them off as I finish them. I find this to be super beneficial because I keep track of what I have done and what I still have left to do.

The only issue I have had with online classes is when taking exams, my internet sometimes kicks me off. When this happens, you are completely exited from the exam and can’t get back on to finish it. Basically, it submits it. After this happened to me two times, I decided to go on campus to the computer lab and take my exams there. I found this to be so much better- I never got kicked off when taking a test. So, if that ever happens to you when taking an online exam, then just try moving to the computer lab on campus.

You might just try taking an online class and seeing how you feel about it…who knows, you may just really like it!

I major in criminal justice here at CCBC, and in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve noticed something about our program…it is absolutely amazing. I say this without hyperbole and without exaggeration. The reason for my enthusiasm with the program is the quality of instructors leading those courses.

The classes I’ve taken so far have had a very engaging energy to them, and I attribute that to the learning environment the instructors foster. Rather than be a long drawn out lecture, classes have remain an open dialogue between teacher and student. A place where the history and implications of law enforcement are respectfully and intelligently debated.

Not only are these classes engaging the sheer level of information that instructors have is staggering. Each class is filled with interesting facts, case law, and personal anecdotes about the profession. Every aspect of it is fantastic.

In high school, emailing never seemed that important to me. Frankly, I never really had to send any important messages and I never received them. My email just seemed like something that I needed to have set up so I could make social media accounts. And on the rare occasions I did send an email, it was almost always unprofessional,sloppy, and full of spelling errors.

But we aren’t in high school anymore. To be successful in a college environment, knowing how to properly contact your peers and teachers through email is important. It may not seem like it, but email is the formal type of electronic communication and as such, composing a proper email is vastly important.

When starting an email always include a simple subject in the available space. Don’t overcomplicate it, it should be short and give the recipient a general idea of what the message is about.

Once you ready to compose the actual body of the message, start off by greeting the recipient. Always refer to them by the most professional title you can and never call them by first name unless specifically asked to. After your greeting, end with a comma and press enter twice to begin composing your message. Try and keep you content here as brief as possible within the means of respectfulness. A lengthy email confuses the information you’re trying to get across.

Once you’re completed, end with a departing remark, add a comma, press enter twice, and leave your full name.

I hope this was somewhat helpful. I’ve included an example below.

Subject: This is an example

Hello Dr. Not Real Person,

I just needed to briefly speak with you about a matter that is completely irrelevant.

Don’t get me wrong, I love spring break. I love having a whole week where I don’t have to worry about studying, homework, clinical, or anything involving college. It’s amazing. It’s fun. It’s relaxing. You can only go so hard for so long. Everyone needs a break so they don’t burn out before the end of the semester. Spring break provides just that, allowing all students to refresh themselves.

But unfortunately, it only lasts a week. And then it’s back to the grind. If you’re like me, you find that it is really really REALLY hard to get back into the swing of things. It takes a while to get your brain, attitude, and work ethic back into school mode. In nursing school, you don’t have a lot of time to get back into the frame of mind. So I have compiled a few ideas on how to get things jump-started. 🙂

A few days before school starts again, look at your notes from before break. Refresh your mind on the information you were last taught.

Review your planner/schedule and make sure that there isn’t anything that is due the day you return. (That is the worst feeling when you come to school, everyone is talking about the assignment and you are standing there like “what assignment??”)

Make sure to go to bed at a decent time the night before so that you are rested and refreshed for the first day back.

These aren’t full proof and they may not help everyone, but they sure do help me prepare for the rest of the semester. Welcome back from spring break guys!